Hi folks I clerked in 2011-2012 during the Occupy protests. An observation that is hypertechnical but extremely important: /1

Some people might be inclined to file emergency complaints and TROs to prevent bloodshed and police brutality /2

Good! Go for it. But you HAVE TO COMPLY WITH YOUR LOCAL RULES OM EMERGENCY RELIEF! /3

Often that means that there is a special phone number you call simultaneous with TRO filings to ensure the message gets to the judge and the judge rules on it /4

You might think to yourself: electronic filing is enough! IT IS NOT.

I cannot overemphasize the age of our judiciary. Some don’t have smartphones. Some don’t read them. NOT ALL CLERKS GET DOCKET ALERTS! /5

If you don’t make a call when you seek extremely urgent relief, esp in the late hours, then you risk your request not even being seen. A judge can be woken up in the middle of the night. But not if no one knows about it, and e-filing is not a mouth to ensure that. /end